Archive for

Pacers 2 – 4 Wimbledon Saints

By Jordan.

A bright and brisk Sunday morning welcomed Putney Pacers and the Wimbledon Saints to South Park for the highly anticipated quarter final of the world-renowned Ken Bailey cup.

While Saints were going through their one-hour warm up, the Pacer clan were busily ringing anyone in walking distance to come along and be our 11th man. Luckily with 10 minutes to kick off, Eduardo rocked up and we were ready to go with the bare 11.

A cagey start for both teams saw little effort on either goal, Ryan donning the gloves for the first half was safe and assured and dealt with anything coming his way.

The first goal came midway through the half with Pacers playing the neatest football seen so far.  It was a long passage of play with 1 and 2 touch football worthy of Sky sports – Saints were busy chasing shadows.

A neat little lay off inside to Oli gave him time and space to thread an exquisite through-ball to their big no9 who pranced past the flat-footed Pacer defence to bear down on a now lonely looking Ryan.

Ryan must have given him a dodgy look because the big fella literally just fell over and grabbed the ball with his front hoof on the way down. The Pacer defence, now in stitches, watched Bambi get back to his feet whilst waving their collective hands in the air calling for the free kick.

It never came and we watched the biggun jink through the statues and bash one past the rooted Ryan. 

1-0

With Nick Earl having a well deserved lie in, I only have Nick Kearns to write about and the rugger bugger nearly got himself on the score sheet with a flashing angled drive beating the keeper and the post after some good work by the the tireless ‘Good Ash’ and Lewis.

The second half started with Good Ash in the sticks and nearly picking the ball out of the net with his first touch after hesitation in the defence let through their striker whose lob was off target.

Their second goal came soon after; with more hesitation in the defence from a corner, a flat footed Jordan’s straight-legged hoof was too little too late and a little one nipped in front to make it 2-0.

Pacers and their “never-die” attitude were soon back in it after another half hearted clearance was lobbed back in from the still pissed Oli and Nick (the one that didn’t lay in) flicked one on to the back post which we all just stood and watched as it dribbled past the keeper to nestle in the bottom corner.

Pacers and their “fuck it, lets give one away” attitude were soon 2 behind again after more confusion in the box, which would have infuriated our one and only fan Uncle Pete.  Pacers let in one of their boys to smash past a helpless Nick who had just volunteered for the last stint in goal.

Ryan shoulder barged the Saints centre midfielder square in the face to give away a free kick from 25 yards. In fairness to Ryan he did just nick the ball. In fairness to the now Manny Pacquiao look alike – I’ve seen people get less from Oli after not paying the bill and trying to scarper from one of his eating establishments.

The 25 yard rocket was heading towards the top corner (or just wide but lets not tell Nick) and across came a man who looked like he needed to get to another football game and akin to the late Allessio rose salmon-esque to palm it away for a corner. I’ve quite literally not seen a save like it since last week.

With less than 10 on the clock a marauding Oli was stopped in his tracks with a late lunge just outside the area and the resulting free kick from a below par (I’d give him a 5) Sean was whipped in and Jordan (with his first decent touch of the game) headed through a crowded box to make it 3-2. GAME ON.

Various lofts into the box came to nothing as Pacers pushed for the equaliser and were caught out with one on the break and a neat finish ended the contest.  Pacers finished 4-2 losers.    

Pacers 1 – 5 Fishblood Stiffs

By Alex.

A frosty morning, that would have been better spent in bed, saw a game in the balance and after a 20minute delay for thawing, the game got underway.

 
Pacers were sluggish and fish were on top for the first few minutes and immediately penetrated when behind a group of bodies, one of theirs lumped a hard one past stand-in keeper, Kev.

 
Pacers then probed away and eventually found their rhythm better and equalised after 20 or so when Alex played dalesy in who slotted one cooly in past the fishy’s keeper.

 
Putney were now on top and exerting serious pressure in the fish area. Chances fell to Ben and Dales in goalmouth scrambles but The Pacers couldn’t take their chances.

 
Matt H, who’d had an early night, was forced off due to catching a bad one and getting a dead leg, on came Matt A.
 
Pacer pressure then paid off when Dales was bundled over in the box.  Pacers with a chance to take the lead into halftime.  “Ash’ll have”, “Dalesy’ll have”. Speculation of the taker was quashed when up stepped captain Alex, ball on spot, “following in pacers”, “picking up the scraps pacers” all adding to his nervous disposition and at the critical moment he blew his beans and the ball halfway to Wimbledon common extensions in what was the worst penalty miss since ‘Old Ash’ put one on the King’s Road from the same venue.

 
Half time 1-1 but Pacers very much on top.
 
2nd half saw The Pacers again the better side for large chunks but wasteful striking, unsure defending, and a lack of communication meant Pacers were all cock and no balls, all meat and no mustard, all effort and no follow follow through.

When Dalesy put Alex one on one with the keeper, he was crunched in what was lucky not to be a red card for fishy keeper.

Fishmen were flattered by a serious below par Pacers 2nd half performance and took the lead with a ball over the top.

They then got another with a hump from the keeper.. Pacer pants pulled down and balls tickled by quick fire goals towards the end of a frustrating half saw the fishboys run out 5-1 winners.

A game in which chances weren’t taken, defence was rattled and a missed penalty halted a pacers goal rush.

A low ebb to a poor season in the league so far.

Special thanks to Middlesbrough’s finest for going in nets and making a good go of it.

Positive is we’ve found our sub goalie 😉
 
Pacers must reflect and regroup for a bottom of the table clash next Sunday and a big chance to jump from the foot of the table and avoid being bottom at Xmas and saving the kearns brothers from an early axe.

A bad day at the office all round but the pacers have enough spirit and ability to turn these halfchances(whole chances) into goals and victories!

Up the pacers! Believe!